Analyzing just how good the Washington Football Team’s defense is

Why Washington’s defense is so good on paper

What does any of that have to do with how good Washington’s defense is? Glad you asked.

Washington has sacked opposing quarterbacks 36 times this year. That puts them second in the league, tied with Philadelphia, trailing only the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers. That’s a very good number. More than three sacks a game.

But half of those sacks have come in the three games against Dallas and Philadelphia and their depleted offensive lines. Eight came opening day against the Eagles. Ten more in the two Cowboy games. Washington won all three.

In their other win, against Cincinnati, they had four sacks. The Bengals did not need injuries to ruin their offensive line. Their front office handled that job all by themselves.

So almost three quarters of that gaudy sack numbers comes in the four wins against teams with well-below-average offensive lines. In four of Washington’s losses this year, they have managed just one sack. Two of those games were against the Giants and Lions – teams with mediocre blocking units.

Washington will not become an elite defense until that pass rush performs at an elite level week after week. They will not become a serious playoff contender – as opposed to something of a novelty which is what they are right now – until they put up numbers against quality offenses, and don’t merely pad their stats against beat up, second and third stringers.